5 comments about Murder at Monticello (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries).

1. I started the Mrs. Murphy books because they were advertised as being like the Lilian Jackson Braun books. Not so. The Cat Who... mysteries are fun, clean and delightful to read. The Mrs. Murphy books are full of cussing and anti God remarks.
   This is my opinion. If you want good clean reading. Stick to the Cat Who's...



2. The home of Thomas Jefferson provides the perfect setting for mysterious murders, both past and present. The past murder comes to light when an archaeological dig unearths the remains of a man buried in Monticello's slave quarters. Postmistress Harry Harristeen and her blue-blood friends begin investigating the murder, and in doing so, they place their own lives in danger. Of course, Harry's cat, Mrs. Murphy, and corgi, Tee Tucker, are instrumental in solving the case. As a result of the investigation, some current murders also occur. As usual, author Brown provides a good read, this time enhanced by some interesting background information on our third president and his famous home, Monticello.



3. In the 3rd installment of the Mrs. Murphy and Tucker Mystery series, a body has been discovered in the slave quarters of the home of Thomas Jefferson. Since Jefferson has been dead for 170 years, it is impossible to question him about the man found dead from a blow to the dead. And when another recently murdered body is discovered, it becomes apparent that someone wants the secrets that have been buried with the body to remain so. Coming into question is the practice of slavery, and the descendants of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson had been rumored to have fathered a child by one of his slaves, and it appears that the man found murdered may have been also been involved with one of the slaves. The citizens of Crozet band together to prove that their beloved Jefferson had nothing to do with the murder or cover-up, and while doing so they unearth secrets that have been hidden in the town for over a century.
   
   I have become a big fan of this series, and enjoy the banter between the animals. The relationships between the members of the town have been evolving, and I like the way that Harry is loved and embraced by the people who have known her all of her life. She works hard, cares for her animals, and genuinely cares for the town and its residents. I look forward to future books in the series, and am hopeful to see more of Blair as a potential love interest for Harry.
   
   The first book in this series is called "Wish You Were Here". Enjoy!



4. Is this old murder from 1803 connected to the new one that just occurred in present day Crozen? Harry and her friends think so, so they begin to dig deep into old records and letters to find out what the connection could be. Can some knowledge be that great that it covers two centuries? Apparently so because it appears that someone really wants some old secrets kept secret. I enjoyed this book actually more than the previous two because I found that the two murders separated by almost 200 years were very well connected by the author. I still find the "talking" done by the animals in this series a little off-putting, but the mysteries are quite good in spite of this.



5. I love the characters but, too many ...
   confusing to say the least. The books would be better with less characters. Also the cats and dog need to interact more.

2 comments about Cats in Quilts: 14 Purrfect Projects.

1. For all quilters who love cats as well this is a great book. The applique techniques are easy and the results are a quilt with lovable cats on it.



2. I love this book...The patterns are fun, and I love Carol's applique and ideas ...If you like doing cats, then this is one of the books that you should own..

1 comments about Getting in TTouch with your Cat.

1. Whether your cat is the most well-adjusted animal ever, or neurotic and nervous, there will always be times, like going to the vet, when calming and communication from the owner will help. I can't recommend the T Touch more highly. I was doubtful, but it has enormously helped my terrified Persian rescue, so I even used it on my 15-yr. old Himalayan with excellent results.

3 comments about The New Yorker Book of All-New Cat Cartoons (New Yorker Series).

1. As one who has owned over thirty cats in my life time (as many as five at one time) it is quite obvious that I am, indeed, a cat lover to the utmost degree! While it is difficult to compete with some of the world's greatest and best loved cats, such as Garfield and Norton, most cat lovers will agree this book provides a good supply of absolutely purr-fect humour! It is written in the same witty manner of the previous New Yorker cat cartoons, but I actually preferred this one. There was something about the cat antics in this one that were more true to life. The whole book comes together quite nicely and is equally as amusing and entertaining, if not moreso, than the first New Yorker Book of Cat Cartoons! The antics are great...and so true to life, as any serious cat lover will recognize. The personalities of cats are not much different than humans; our feline friends are just a little better at showing us who is in charge!



2. Cat lovers will treasure this book! The New Yorker’s staff has created a second volume of cat cartoons by adding more recent cat cartoons since the first book came out as well as some older cartoons.

   As before, the 86 pages bristle with humor about our relationships to cats, a cat’s eye on our world, and the usual switching of cats and people into each other’s roles.

   To my taste, over half of the cartoons were outstanding, and all were good.

   Here are some of my favorites.

   Man visiting bare-chested yogi on a ledge outside a cave entrance is surrounded by cats. "The meaning of life is cats." Sam Gross;

   Wall of books with signs about them "Travel, Science, History, Fiction, Cute Cats." A well-dressed man is standing in front of Cute Cats holding a book with an illustration of a cat. Sidney Harris;

   "Dog Days" is the caption for a subway car filled with dogs looking hot, with their tongues hanging out, wearing disheveled suits. A lone cat in the middle is neatly dressed and is definitely the cool cat of the illustration. William Hamilton;

   Cat executive sits behind a large desk that covers an aquarium filled with very large fish. Bernard Sshoenbaum;

   Cat speaks to a bird in a tree. "Hey, let's do lunch.
   " Robert Mankoff;

   Man and woman in a restaurant find themselves staring at a cat in the middle of their small table for two. The waiter explains "We're out of flowers." Danny Shanahan;

   Four panels of a man and woman. In the third panel, a cat walks through and both stop to beam happily at the cat. Joseph Farris;

   Cat with a television playing in the background is outside of a mousehole. "Jeopardy is on." Sam Gross;

   Lawyer has cat on shoulder and holds out an envelope to a dog. "We're slapping you with a stress suit . . . . "Danny Shanahan;

   Cat is driving a taxi cab and speaks to human passenger, "Yeah, I was into the pet thing for a while, but that scene wasn't for me." Eldon Didini;

   Cat holding a smoking gun as a dead bird lies outside the window. "What was I supposed to do? I've been declawed." Frank Cotham;

   General arrives home and sees cat in the foyer, "As you were." Mick Stevens;

   Cat to owner near cat door, "I'm going out. Do you need any voles." Sam Gross;

   Fortune teller holding woman's hand, "A wonderful cat is coming into your life." Edward Koren;

   Cat in bed waking up, while the alarm goes "Tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet." Arnie Levin;

   Two dogs are looking at a cat walking by, "Are we talking about life style or orientation?" Peter Steiner.

   The book’s weaknesses are two. First, it lacks an essay to tie together the humor and deepen your appreciation of it. So it’s more like a scrapbook of cartoons than a book of cartoons. Second, the dog-cat humor was not nearly as good as in the first book of New Yorker cat cartoons. You would think that there would be an endless supply of outstanding work available . . . but I guess not.

   The positive aspect of the book is to realize how much better most of us relate to cats than to other people. Keeping that same wonderful cat relationship, how can you improve your human connections? How about bringing along a cat to enjoy with others?

   Love a cat today!




3. Speaking as a writer of humorous cat books (most recently, "Scratching the 'Net: Web Sites for Cats"), it seems to me quite fitting that a classy creature like the cat should be hilariously immortalized by a classy magazine like the New Yorker. This is another wonderful collection of cartoons by an exceptionally talented group of cartoonists. I defy any cat lover not to find at least several cartoons in this book that remind them of their own personal furry friend.

4 comments about Cats with Attitude.

1. I ordered this book for my son, who is a cat lover. We own "101 uses for a Dead Cat," by Simon Bond and it is hilarious. I was hoping Nicole Hollander's humor would be similar to Simon Bond's, but was disappointed. The illustrations were great, but the jokes were not so funny. Plus, many of the comics were not proper for a young child to read. I am sadly disappointed. The illustrations really had me fooled into thinking this would be a winner! Would not recommend to family and friends.



2. From Marisa Katana D'Vari of a Library Cat Dot Com
   
   "Cats always like what you're eating better than what they're eating," says Nicole Hollander in her hilarious cat humor book, Cats With Attitude. This book is actually two books in one, as Hollander's publisher decided to combine Everything Here is Mine and My Cat's Not Fat, He's Just Big-Boned in one edition.
   
   What's best about Hollander's work is that it's impossible to turn a page without bursting out in laughter. Cat owners can recognize many of the behaviors Hollander describes in their own cats. For example, Hollander describes how she tried to train her cat to use the toilet, instead of a litter box. It brought back memories of the time I purchased a kit designed for this purpose, a sort of seat one was instructed to line with plastic wrap and sprinkle with cat litter.
   
   When my then-kitten didn't quite respond, I placed calls to the technical support number listed in the instructions. At first, whoever answered the phone told me that the person I needed to speak to was out of the office. Many calls later they finally broke the news that the kit was a sort of gag gift, not to be taken seriously.
   
   Hollander, apparently, had better luck. Yet she discounts this sort of training for one key reason: cats don't flush. Worse, once trained they expect their own bathroom. Of course, all cat owners - especially owners lucky enough to have marble bathroom floors - know that cats are quick to appropriate this room as their own.
   
   In my new apartment, I decided to take the master bathroom and designated a guest bath for the cat. Of course, the cat decided she liked the cool marble floor and elegant fixtures of the master bath, so we sort of had to tough it out. Hollander also has a chapter on cats and the law.
   
   The fact that cats love luxury is a recurring (re-purring?) theme in this book - which every cat owner knows. Hollander states that in California, if one leaves a cat alone in a car that is neither a convertible nor a BMW, the owner may be liable for a heavy fine. How true!
   
   A very funny section concerns the astrological signs of cats. A Gemini cat, for example, is "easily bored" and must be kept amused with toys or games else they get edgy and look for a new home. A Virgo cat is meticulous and critical. "Keep their litter ox clean or they'll get even."
   
   All in all, Cats with Attitude is the perfect gift for a cat-loving friend, or a book to read whenever you feel down. Just one caveat! Don't let your cat catch you reading this! They prefer to think that no one, least of all humor writers, are onto their secrets.



3. As someone who has lived with cats since childhood, I can say that Nicole Hollander has truly nailed the personalities of these comical and sometimes exasperating creatures. This book is actually a compilation of two earlier books, so some of the material may be familiar to you, but the book is a bargain and can't help but make anyone who lives with cats laugh. I recommend this book to anyone who loves (or merely lives tolerantly with) these quirky animals.



4. Nicole Hollander has here written the funniest book I've ever read in my life. Of course, to be fair, I do suppose you have to be something of a cat lover (or at least, live with cats) to understand her wit and humor -- in other words, the concept of two cats holding their owner's 1040 hostage for food might be lost on the uninitiated.

   The only thing I will say is that this particular edition contains two books, "Everything Here Is Mine" and "My Cat's Not Fat, He's Just Big Boned". The latter contains much of the same material that was in the former. Still, the price for both is the same as the price for one, so why not?

5 comments about Garfield at Large: His First Book (Davis, Jim. Garfield Classics.).

1. This is one big orange reason to not buy a cat. You are also in danger of never having much pasta in your diet again, as the big, fat, annoying cat eats all your food, sleeps all over the place and wrecks your furniture. He will also do nasty things to the postie and possibly to anyone you decided to bring over. Still, fairly amusing.



2. "Garfield at Large" is Garfield's first funnies (1978-1979). Lovely to see Jim Davis early ideas. (First strip with Odie, Pookie, first bad Monday...) Beautiful. Garfield's chubbier to begin with. Curious.



3. This book:
   
   Well, Paws decided to colourize the weekday strips for these new compilations and they look nice. I would have preferred it if they simply left them in black and white and had the Sunday strips in colour, though. The Sunday strips are the same as you would have seen in the newspaper or the "Garfield Treasuries". Except, the colour scheme is modified slightly (not a big deal) and they added the title block (the title "GARFIELD" rising out of the background, with Garfield lying down in front of it) which didn't exist until the early 1980s!
   
   The later collections:
   
   The problem is with the later collections. I noticed that some of these new colour collections which come after "Garfield at Large" have the funny front pages and end pages from the original collections moved around or missing entirely. This may have been a printing mistake, though.
   
   Here is the big problem. The original black and white collections up to and including the sixteenth were missing the title and drop block from the Sunday strips. That is, the title block and the very first block of the strip. This didn't matter for the first few years as these didn't exist. A few years later, the title block mentioned in my first paragraph was introduced and the drop block simply showcased the four major characters, Garfield, Odie, Jon and Lyman. A little later, unique title blocks and drop blocks related to the strip's story were created.
   
   Unfortunately, the new colour collections have the drop block REMOVED in the later collections, yet the unique title block is included. So the strips aren't complete, if you want to read the complete strips, I guess you have to visit the Garfield website.
   
   Still, for the price, it's a great value. The books are printed on high quality paper as usual. Even the new colour "Fat Cat 3-Packs" are printed in higher quality paper instead of that awful "mass market paperback" paper they used to use for the older ones.



4. Garfield is a very lazy cute lovable cat that everyone adores. He sits around all day, eats lasagna, sleeps all day, and buggs the crap out of Oddie. He hates any attention. He likes to physically abuse Nermal, and no matter how much he tries he can't make him not cute and loveable.
   In this book Garfield tries to do the impossible, LOSE WEIGHT!!! Garfield runs and hides when ANY ONE brings up the word diet. Garfield runs and hides when ANY ONE brings up the word diet. Garfield can be such an idiot (most of the time)!
   I like this book because I love to see Garfield do funny things, because I love him SO MUCH!!DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!



5. Now, as you can see in this panel, Garfield doesn't like Nermal! But like him or not, Nermal's here to stay! Or is he?! Let's find out.

No comments about Purr-ables from Heaven Gift Edition: Inspirational Stories for Cat Lovers.

3 comments about Weep Not for Me: In Memory of a Beloved Cat.

1. It is a beautiful, beautiful poem that she's written and published in this book. It's heartbreaking and consoling at the same time. Having just lost one of my Babies, one of my little children, it was very moving. I highly, highly recommend it for anyone who has been so unfortunate as to have lost one of their "little children" too.



2. My late wife left behind dozens of books on or about cats, this was one of them. While it is aimed at helping those who grieve the loss of a beloved animal companion, reading it was almost like hearing her voice whispering in my ear about how to best deal with her death. A loving gift for those that are suffering the loss of a pet. Recommended.



3. There are only about 30 pages in this tiny book. It's approximately 4.5 x 6" and hardcover. Every two-page fold has a black and white picture ("sugar lift etching") of a cat, and a few words of the poem that fills it. The title of the book is the beginning words of the poem. It is from a cat's point of view.

   Only get this book if you want to offer your sympathy to a cat person, or if you feel like being weepy over your own cat's loss. It seemed a bit maudlin to me, but it's very well done, commercially.

   In the back there are "pet loss helplines" to call for the US or Britain. This is a Souvenir Press book, printed in Italy.

   It seems a little overpriced to me, because it's so small.

   amr

No comments about Chococat 2009 Wall Calendar: (includes stickers).

5 comments about The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats: A Journey Into the Feline Heart.

1. Despite being almost narrative, Masson's book is based on facts about the feline world. Some questions about the cats I've had through the years were answered, and I was entertained and moved by the anecdotes the author tells.
   All in all, a nice and clever read. Why the hate?



2. Delightful and thought-provoking. Animal-human and animal-animal interactions are far deeper than we often give them credit, and this book explores the depth of relationships and feelings, and ways of animal communication. Us humans have a lot to learn. Masson in a previous life was a psychotherapist, and he brings his insights into his relationships with cats, providing us ailurophiles with information about how best to relate and behave with our cat companions.



3. Excellent story of the author's life with his cats in New Zealand, and how they accompany him for long walks. Even urban cats like to travel and walk - my city cats love to walk for miles with me, no, not on a leash. Many of the reviewers are quite unfair, just because they don't let their cats out - indoor cats are common in America and many shelters for instance only rehome them on signing a contract that they will not be allowed outside - does not mean their policy is justified. Cats need access to outside and the warm earth, just as we all do, and this wonderful book shows what's possible.



4. I am a cat lover, but unlike the author I believe in keeping our cats inside because of the environment we live in (highly trafficked area)If we lived on a beach in New Zealand as the author does, I'd certainly reconsider. Having said that, I really feel that this book gives a wonderful insight into the temperament, personality and attitude of cats. Each cat is unique and the author portrays his feline friends as the individuals they are while still maintaining a realistic narrative on how to live with small children in a family environment with cats. The author is not feline-centric, he obviously loves dogs and humans and his environment as much as he loves his cats so it's a very balanced view of raising and living with cats.
   I loved this book and would highly recommend it.



5. As a cat lover, with 12 indoor only cats I was excited to read this book. Unfortunately, I ended up irate that this man thinks he knows cats well enough to write about them. He seems to have only lived with them a year and even gave one of his five away at one point. When I take an animal in, it us mine for the lifetime of the animal regardless of behavior or any other problem. I also believe as most intelligent people do that cats should be kept indoors only. Yes, they may get a little bored, but it is the owner's job to find new ways to stimulate them. A beach in New Zealand may be fairly safe for cats, but you never know when they could get into poison or near an animal abuser. If you want to know about the emotional lives of cats just watch and enjoy them.